The dashing new style policemen ate embodied in the smart Beau of the title. Despite its being rather convoluted plotting, once it got past the toffs debating the new railways, the game is on, as they say. What I really enjoy any this one ( and I've read other adventures) is what I learn about the time period.. the issue about Trailways is not as simple as it might seem, and even thieves have to catch up with new transport technologies. Really good fun especially as it gets going, and I just simply ignored worrying about the story line. He is a decent. chap and smart.

The Blackstone novels(and this is the third of six in the series are just tremendous. Falkirk(Derek Lambert) knows this time period and tells a great story of a hardboiled bow runner in the 18 th century. Blackstone is the detective and he is a great character—really tough,no nonsense.. What impresses me most about this series is how the history is seamless blended into the story(and each novel is grounded in a true life event. Can’t praise these enough.

Invested interests in the canal industry threatened the new railway engines. George Stephenson brings in the Bow Street Runners and therefore Blackstone to find the conspirators and stop the plots against him, and the railway between Stockton and Darlington.
An enjoyable thriller/mystery with the interesting character of Blackstone.